TikTok has strongly denied accusations by US congressman Brad Sherman that its owners purchased $300 million worth of Trump meme coins. Responding via its official policy account on X, the company labelled the claims false and misleading.
Sherman alleged that the memecoin purchase was effectively a bribe to influence Donald Trump’s stance on banning TikTok in the US.
However, the accusations appear based on a report involving GD Culture Group, a Nasdaq-listed company with no direct connection to TikTok or its parent ByteDance.
GD Culture reportedly announced plans to buy Trump coins and Bitcoin while using TikTok to distribute AI-enhanced content. Despite this, no financial link between the firm and Trump or TikTok has been confirmed.
The timing of the claim coincides with Trump’s third delay in enforcing the TikTok ban, raising further political speculation. Sherman, a long-time crypto critic, also said that Trump’s crypto ventures threaten the US dollar’s dominance.
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US President Donald Trump has announced a 90-day extension for TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to secure a US buyer, effectively postponing a nationwide ban of the popular video-sharing app. The move comes in the wake of a bipartisan law passed in 2024, requiring the platform to be sold to a non-Chinese entity due to national security concerns.
Trump is expected to formalise this decision with an executive order later this week, ensuring the platform remains available to its approximately 170 million American users. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasised that Trump is determined to keep TikTok operational, stating that the president ‘does not want TikTok to go dark.’
The latest extension follows a series of delays since Trump returned to office, including an initial 75-day grace period granted in January and an extension in April when no buyer had emerged. The situation remains unresolved despite optimism from Vice President JD Vance earlier this year that a deal would materialise in time.
President Trump has acknowledged that any sale would likely require Chinese government approval but expressed confidence in reaching a solution, citing a potentially cooperative stance from President Xi Jinping.
Interestingly, while Trump previously sought to ban TikTok during his first term, citing national security risks, he now appears to be more pragmatic. The president himself joined TikTok as a user just over a year ago, underscoring the app’s enduring popularity and the complex political and economic dynamics surrounding its future in the US.
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Meta and TikTok have taken their fight against an the EU supervisory fee to Europe’s second-highest court, arguing that the charges are disproportionate and based on flawed calculations.
The fee, introduced under the Digital Services Act (DSA), requires major online platforms to pay 0.05% of their annual global net income to cover the European Commission’s oversight costs.
Meta questioned the Commission’s methodology, claiming the levy was based on the entire group’s revenue instead of the specific EU-based subsidiary.
The company’s lawyer told judges it still lacked clarity on how the fee was calculated, describing the process as opaque and inconsistent with the spirit of the law.
TikTok also criticised the charge, alleging inaccurate and discriminatory data inflated its payment.
Its legal team argued that user numbers were double-counted when people switched between devices. The Commission had wrongly calculated fees based on group profits rather than platform-specific earnings.
The Commission defended its approach, saying group resources should bear the cost when consolidated accounts are used. A ruling is expected from the General Court sometime next year.
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TikTok has announced plans to expand its UK operations significantly, adding over 500 new jobs and investing in a significant new office in London.
Despite ongoing scrutiny from Western governments over data security and alleged ties to the Chinese state, TikTok insists it invests heavily in trust and safety.
The company already employs 2,500 people in the country and will bring its UK workforce to 3,000 by the end of 2025.
The announcement coincides with London Tech Week, where Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed major global tech firms to showcase innovation and economic commitment.
TikTok’s UK director, Adam Presser, described the country as the platform’s largest user community in Europe, with over 30 million monthly users.
He emphasised that the company’s growth strategy includes commitments to digital safety and economic support for local creators and entrepreneurs.
Company leaders have reiterated that they aim to create a secure space while supporting the broader economy through innovation and job creation.
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Amid heightened cybersecurity tensions in East Asia, exemplified by China’s recent accusations against Taiwan for alleged cyberattacks and bounty offers targeting Taiwanese hackers, Japan is taking proactive steps to strengthen its cyberdefence capabilities. In May, the Japanese parliament approved a cyberdefence law, empowering authorities to monitor international communications through domestic infrastructure and neutralise overseas servers preemptively if they’re suspected of initiating cyberattacks. To complement these legislative measures, Japan is also formulating a comprehensive new cybersecurity strategy by the end of 2025, which will prioritise advanced encryption, proactive threat detection, and enhanced resilience of critical national infrastructure.
Cryptocurrencies continue to reshape Europe’s financial landscape, prompting varying responses from institutions across the continent. While the EU is actively advancing its ambitions for a digital euro, viewing it as a strategic tool to enhance the eurozone’s global currency influence and financial sovereignty, the Bank of Italy has expressed scepticism about current regulatory efforts. Specifically, Italy’s central bank criticised the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, pointing out its limited impact on boosting crypto adoption or effectively addressing consumer protection and market stability concerns.
The EU continues its legal battle with tech companies that do not comply with its digital market policies. Namely, the European Commission has imposed a €329 million fine on Berlin-based Delivery Hero and its Spanish subsidiary, Glovo, for participating in what it described as ‘a cartel’ in the online food delivery market.
A content policy correction initiative from France: TikTok has globally banned the hashtag ‘SkinnyTok’ after pressure from the French government, which accused the platform of promoting harmful eating habits among young users.
EU’s International Digital Strategy
On 5 June 2025, the European Commission and the High Representative unveiled a new International Digital Strategy for the EU, aiming to enhance the EU’s global tech competitiveness and security amid a rapidly evolving digital landscape. The strategy emphasises deepening existing Digital Partnerships and Dialogues, establishing new ones, and creating a Digital Partnership Network to foster collaboration on emerging technologies like AI, 5G/6G, semiconductors, and quantum computing, while promoting secure connectivity through initiatives like the Global Gateway. It also introduces an EU Tech Business Offer, a modular approach to combine technology solutions with capacity-building, supporting trusted partners in building secure digital infrastructure, such as submarine cables and AI Factories.
Prioritising cybersecurity, the EU plans to strengthen defences against cyber threats and Foreign Information Manipulation (FIMI) by enhancing resilience and promoting algorithmic transparency on online platforms. The strategy reaffirms the EU’s commitment to shaping global digital governance by advocating for human-centric standards in forums like the UN and G7, ensuring the digital transformation aligns with democratic values and fundamental rights.
Last week in Geneva
In Geneva, the 113th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC), convened by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), is currently taking place from 2 to 13 June 2025 at the Palais des Nations and ILO headquarters, where delegates are deliberating on pressing global labour issues.
On 5 June, the Giga Research Lab, in collaboration with Giga and the Geneva Innovation Movement, hosted a high-level event titled Bridging the Digital Divide: Cross-Sector Insights for Scaling School Connectivity. Held on Giga premises, the event welcomed invited guests for an exchange of ideas on expanding digital access in education.
On the same day, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) held a webinar to launch the fourth edition of the landmark report, Greening Digital Companies: Monitoring Emissions and Climate Commitments 2025.
For the main updates, reflections and events, consult the RADAR, the READING CORNER and the UPCOMING EVENTS section below.
As the global race for digital dominance accelerates, the European Union is stepping forward with a bold strategy that blends technological ambition with a commitment to democratic values and international…
The open-architecture Tuna-5 showcases how academic labs and startups can build a functional quantum machine with interoperable components from the local supply chain.
Vodafone is facing one of the largest privacy-related fines in Germany’s telecom sector, revealing deep concerns over how personal data is handled behind the scenes.
The consultation, organised by the the President of the General Assembly, aims to gather input from all relevant WSIS stakeholders on the preparatory process for the review of the implementation…
The session aims to foster open dialogue, encourage active stakeholder engagement, and support continued progress toward the WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025
Digital Democracy for All (D4ALL): Capacity Building Programme for Armenia The Digital Democracy for All (DD4ALL) project is a collaborative initiative
Diplo/GIP at IGF 2025 The 20th annual meeting of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) will be hosted by the Government of Norway, in Lillestrøm, from 23 to 27 June.
TikTok has globally banned the hashtag ‘SkinnyTok’ after pressure from the French government, which accused the platform of promoting harmful eating habits among young users. The decision comes as part of the platform’s broader effort to improve user safety, particularly around content linked to unhealthy weight loss practices.
The move was hailed as a win by France’s Digital Minister, Clara Chappaz, who led the charge and called it a ‘first collective victory.’ She, along with other top French digital and data protection officials, travelled to Dublin to engage directly with TikTok’s Trust and Safety team. Notably, no representatives from the European Commission were present during these discussions, raising questions about the EU’s role and influence in enforcing digital regulations.
While the European Commission had already opened a broader investigation into TikTok over child protection issues in early 2024 under the Digital Services Act (DSA), it has yet to comment on the SkinnyTok case specifically. Despite this, the Commission says it is still coordinating with French authorities on matters related to DSA enforcement.
The episode has spotlighted national governments’ power in pushing for online safety reforms and the uncertain role of the EU institutions in urgent digital policy actions.
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Nearly half of UK youths aged 16 to 21 say they would prefer to grow up without the internet, a new survey reveals. The British Standards Institution found that 68% feel worse after using social media and half would support a digital curfew past 10 p.m.
These findings come as the government considers app usage limits for platforms like TikTok and Instagram. The study also showed that many UK young people feel compelled to hide their online behaviour: 42% admitted lying to parents, and a similar number have fake or burner accounts.
More worryingly, 27% said they have shared their location with strangers, while others admitted pretending to be someone else entirely. Experts argue that digital curfews alone won’t reduce exposure to online harms without broader safeguards in place.
Campaigners and charities are calling for urgent legislation that puts children’s safety before tech profits. The Molly Rose Foundation stressed the danger of algorithms pushing harmful content, while the NSPCC urged a shift towards less addictive and safer online spaces.
The majority of young people surveyed want more protection online and clearer action from tech firms and policymakers.
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TikTok has launched a new feature called AI Alive, allowing users to turn still images into dynamic, short videos. Instead of needing advanced editing skills, creators can now use AI to generate movement and effects with a few taps.
By accessing the Story Camera and selecting a static photo, users can simply type how they want the image to change — such as making the subject smile, dance, or tilt forward. AI Alive then animates the photo, using creative effects to produce a more engaging story.
TikTok says its moderation systems review the original image, the AI prompt, and the final video before it’s shown to the user. A second check occurs before a post is shared publicly, and every video made with AI Alive will include an ‘AI-generated’ label and C2PA metadata to ensure transparency.
The feature stands out as one of the first built-in AI image-to-video tools on a major platform. Snapchat and Instagram already offer AI image generation from text, and Snapchat is reportedly developing a similar image-to-video feature.
Meanwhile, TikTok is also said to be working on adding support for sending photos and voice messages via direct message — something rival apps have long supported.
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TikTok has launched ‘AI Alive,’ its first image-to-video feature that allows users to transform static photos into animated short videos within TikTok Stories.
Accessible only through the Story Camera, the tool applies AI-driven movement and effects—like shifting skies, drifting clouds, or expressive animations—to bring photos to life.
Unlike text-to-image tools found on Instagram and Snapchat, TikTok’s latest feature takes visual storytelling further by enabling full video generation from single images. Although Snapchat plans to introduce a similar function, TikTok has moved ahead with this innovation.
All AI Alive videos will carry an AI-generated label and include C2PA metadata to ensure transparency, even when shared beyond the platform.
TikTok emphasises safety, noting that every AI Alive video undergoes several moderation checks before it appears to creators.
Uploaded photos, prompts, and generated videos are reviewed to prevent rule-breaking content. Users can report violations, and final safety reviews are conducted before public sharing.
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President Donald Trump indicated he would extend the deadline set for the Chinese-owned company ByteDance to sell TikTok’s US operations if negotiations remain unfinished by 19 June.
Democratic senators have challenged Trump’s authority to postpone the deadline further, arguing that the proposed spin-off arrangement does not satisfy legal conditions outlined in the original legislation.
Trump remains firm about maintaining high tariffs on China, now at 145%, which he insists significantly impacts the Chinese economy.
Yet, he has left the door open to eventually lowering these tariffs within a more comprehensive trade agreement, acknowledging China’s strong desire to resume business with the U.S.
Despite multiple extensions, the fate of TikTok’s US operations remains uncertain, as political and economic factors continue shaping negotiations. Trump’s willingness to extend deadlines reflects broader geopolitical dynamics between Washington and Beijing, linking digital platform regulation closely with international trade policy.
